On October 15, 2010, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo exchanged messages of congratulations to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Hu said, in the past 40 years, bilateral ties had stood the test of an ever-changing international situation and achieved a healthy and smooth development. With sincerity and mutual respect and trust, the two sides had offered sympathy and support to each other on key issues concerning their core interests and national development causes, while the understanding and friendship between the two peoples had also enjoyed steady growth, he said. China and Equatorial Guinea are good friends and partners. China was willing to work with Equatorial Guinea to strengthen traditional friendship, enhance exchanges and cooperation, and jointly compose a new chapter in China-Equatorial Guinea friendly cooperation, Hu said.

Meanwhile, in his message, Obiang expressed his sincere and warm felicitations on the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He hoped both sides could continue working actively to steadily strengthen the existing friendly and cooperative bilateral relations for the benefit of the two peoples.

On the same day, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi also exchanged messages of congratulations with his Equatorial Guinean counterpart Pastor Micha Ondo Bile.